Florida safety Lucas Thompson said he didn't know the Kentucky football team was interested in him, so he was surprised on Thursday when his high school coach told him UK had made him a scholarship offer.

Thompson, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound player for West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Fla., said he has received letters from UK but that if any of the Wildcats' assistant coaches have been by his school this spring, he's not aware of it.

"This is my first time really hearing from Kentucky," he said. "... It's shocking because I didn't know Kentucky was looking at me. But it's cool."

He said he wasn't sure which UK assistant coach would be his recruiting contact, but he's glad to have the offer nevertheless - his second from the Southeastern Conference, joining Ole Miss.

"I like Kentucky," said Thompson, who's being recruited primarily to play defensive back but also capable of playing running back. "I like their offense and their defense. I might play both sides of the ball."

Thompson said Miami, which made him an offer on Monday, is his favorite school right now, followed by Washington State and Purdue.

His offer list also includes Illinois, Indiana, and several schools from non-BCS-league schools.

Thompson said he would review his offers soon and decide which schools he'd visit; he said UK could get a visit.

"That's good that it's an SEC school because it means they'll come back to Florida (for games against the Gators)," he said. "I would be here for my parents to see me and they don't have to come out of state all the time."